A multi-point recorder has a multi-color ink cartridge arranged to be selectively aligned with a recording head having a plurality of selectively energizable recording elements whereby a color from the multi-color ink cartridge is selected for printing by the recording elements. The recorder can be operated in a fixed color operation by maintaining a preselected alignment of the recording head and a desired color in the multi-color ink cartridge or the color of the recording can be selectively altered at any time to produce a multi-color recording by selecting a corresponding color from the multi-color ink cartridge for each recording. A drive mechanism having a single drive motor for the ink cartridge and the recording head is used to align the ink cartridge with the recording head along a recording line on a recording medium and to position the recording head and the ink cartridge at a printing location on the recording line.